Multiple assembly roller chain



Aug. 27, 1940.

c. R. wElss 2,212,907 MULTIPLE ASSEMBLY ROLLER CHAIN Filed Deo l2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l oars/af 45 vara/4k Aug. 27, 1940. c. R. wElss MULTIPLEVASSEMBLY ROLLER CHAIN [QUAL www Patented Aug. 27, 1940 MULTIPLE ASSEMBLY ROLLER CHAIN Charles R. Weiss, Indianapolis, Ind. assignor to Link-Belt Company, a corporation of Illinois ApplicationDecember 12., 1939, Serial No. 308,860

Claims. (Cl. i4- 251) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in multiple assembly roller chains.

' It is the present practice to employ multiple assembly roller chains trained over appropriate sprockets for handling extra heavy loads and loads under installation conditions where clearance allowances will not permit employing single strand roller chains of adequate size and strength. These multiple assembly roller chains in reality are two or more complete assemblies of chain strands arranged in parallel relation with a single set of chain pins, of appropriate lengths, connecting the respective links of each strand and also uniting the several strands.

Multiple assembly roller chains may be made up of links having straight or at side bars or links having oiset side bars. In the type having straight or flat side bars, each strand is made up of inside and outside links with bushings rigidly connecting both ends of each pair of side bars of the inside links and with chain pins connecting both ends of each pair of side bars of the outside links. The chain pins also-provide articulated 'joints between adjacent inside and outside links by passing through the bushingsof the inside links. In the type formed of oiset links, Vall links are of similar construction. Each link has an inside or narrow end portion and an outside or 'Wide end portion. The side bars of each link Aare rigidly connected by a bushing at the inside end portions and are connected by a chain pin at the outside end portions. In both types, the rollers are journaled on the peripheries of the bushings.k

in manufacturing multiple assembly roller chains V in which event uniform press fit connections first would be produced between the bushing ends and their individual side bar end portions and then, in uniting the adjacent links of each strand and in uniting the parallel strands, the chain pins would be press fitted with a uniform degree of tightness to the side bar pitch holesin which the chain pins are directly received. The power requirements, naturally, would be vconsiderably greater Afor press fitting the chain pins in multi-- ple assembly chains because Qtll 012e 'O mi? Sieveral strands would have two press'fit connections for each chain pin. Therefore, inl assemblies employing two parallel strands, there would'be four press t connections for each pin. The practiceof employing press ts of uniform tightness in manufacturing multiple assembly chains between the chain pins and thepitch holes of all side barend portions directly connected to the chain pins, however, presents several objectionable features: Y

(1) It is extremely difficult to drive orlpress the pins through the holes of ther-intermediate side bars. v

(2) The cost of these vdiicult press tting operations is excessive. u

(3) Itrequires the use of special, heavy pin pushing and extracting equipment in'thefeld when an operator desires to make repairs or to alterthe length of a chainiassembly.

To overcome the above noted diiiiculties, it has been proposed to employ press fits between the chain pins and the extreme outside side bar end portions and to employ loose ts, commonly known as light tap or free slip iits,between` the chain pins'and the intermediate'side bar endV portions. Actual use -of multiple assembly chains made in this way,` however, has shown that new diiiiculties are 'encountered which are much more serious because they deal with the .operartion o'fA the chains while actually inuse.

These new and more serious difficulties are as follows:

v (l) The load is not equally or luniformly dis-f tributed between all of'theside barsl which are directly connected to the chain pins. Theextreme outside side bars, in which lthe chainpins are press fitted, are called upon to bear a greater` *y portion of the load than is borne by the'interrmediate side bars, inwhich the loose ts `are provided. l v n. v A.

(2) The chain pins are compelled to bend lto' take up the play or looseness in the' pitch holes of the intermediate side bars if any of the load 1s to be borne by these intermediate side bars.v I f bending does occur, the pins will be bowed `when the chain travels the driving run and the pins will straighten'out when traveling through the' return run. This repeatedbending or' bowing and straightening has a very destructive effect on the chain pins. y

(3) The bending of the chainpins causes the rollers to cock and bear unevenly on the sprocket;4 teethv with the result that the rollers'andteetlji are worn unevenly. v v y It is the primary object of this invention-*to pro-vide multiple assembly roller chains which may be manufactured without encountering unusual diiculties or incurring excessive costs in assembling the chain pins in the pitch holes of both the outside and intermediate side bar end portions.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a multiple assembly roller chain structure whichmay be easily repaired, or its length changed, in the eld or in users own shops without requiring the use of special pin pushing and extracting equipment.

A still further important object of the invenwhich are not subject to unbalanced load c0ndi tions, pin bending, and uneven wear ofrollers and sprocket teeth.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the follow- Y ing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part 0f this-"specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, y

Figure 1 is a plan View of a section of a multiple assembly roller chain of the type employing insidev and outside links,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly disclosed in Fig. 1,

Figure 3 is a partialV exploded view disclosin for comparison one outside and one intermediate chain vlink side bar,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrates the invention applied-to a multiple assembly roller chain made up of strands of offset links, j

'Figure 5'is a side elevational view of the struc. ture disclosed in Fig. el, and l Figure 6 is-'a partial exploded view disclosing for comparison an outside and an intermediate side bar.

'In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown the preferred embodiments of this invention, and particularly referring to Fig. 1', there' is disclosed va multiple assembly roller chain which is made up -of two complete strands. Each strand includes inside links I0 and `outside links II. The inside links I Il are formed of side bars I2 which are rigidly connected at their opposite end portions by bushings I3 which are press iitted at their opposite ends in appropriate holes formed in the end portions of the side bars. A roller I4 is journaled on each bushing. Intermediate its ends, each roller is provided with an aperture I5 through which lubricant may be fed tozlubricate the contacting surfaces ofV the roller I4 and the bushing I3. Apertures I6 are formed in the end portions of thebushings I3 to allow lubricant to be applied to the bores of the bushings in which the chain pins are received.

`The outside links I I are formed of side bars II and yI8. The end portions of these side bars are provided with pitch holes I9 and 20, respectively. Chain pins 2l are employed for completing the articulated joints between the in. side and outside links. These pins pass through the pitch holes I9 `and 20 of the side bar end portions ofthe side bars I'I and I8 andthrough the bores of the bushings I3. These pins may take any desired form,.but they are illustrated in Fig. las having one headed end 22 and as having a Cotter pin, or the like, 23 passing through an aperture 24 formed in the remaining end. It will be noted in this assembly that although two complete strands of chain links are employed, only one set of chain pins is necessary.

As has been pointed out above, in a single strand chain of inside and outside links, it is customary to provide a press fit between each chain pin and both of the pitch holes formed in the end portions of the side bars. If this practice were carried out in the assembly of a multiple strandy chain of the`v` typel disclosed in Fig. 1, it would jb'e necessary to provide press iits between each chain pin 2|'v andthe four pitch holes I9 and 20 formed in the end portions of the outside and intermediate side bars Il and tion is to provide multiple assembly roller chains I8, respectively. These four press lits would be extremely costly and diiiicult even when per formed in the manufacturers own plant. These four press nts would render repairs, etc., made in. the iield or in a users shop practically prohibitive unless special, heavy pin pushing and extracting machines were provided.

` side bars Il were -carrying practically the entire load in the outside llinks/I I. The intermediate sider bars I8.Y were either not carrying any load or the .chain Ipins 2| were compelled to bend .or

bow to'fcause their peri'pheries to engagelthe outer side walls of the pitch holes 20. As this produced an operatingl defect whichwas extremelyr serious, this plan has had to .be abandoned. y. v

This invention involves a diierent,l and :what has been found to be a complete, solutionfor the entire problem. Iny the present construction, pressy ts are still provided between ythe chain pins2I andthe pitch holes I9 in the outsideside bars I'I. Loose ts, or what are betterknown as flight tap or free slip lits are provided between the chain pin's and the pitch holes 20 of the intermediate side bars I8. To compel these intermediate side bars I8 to carry their full share of the load, or a portion` of the load equal to that borne by thev outside'side bars I'I, the oversize pitch holes 2D are displaced longitudinally inwardly of thelength of the intermediate side bars I8. In other words, the pitch holes 2l] `are eccentrically arranged with respect to the chain pins EI and this eccentric positioning is obtained by shortening the pitch or the distance between the axes of the pitch holes 2B foreach intermediate side bar I8. This shortening of the pitch or the distance' between the pitch hole axes should be suiicient to placetheouter side wall portion'of each pitch hole 20 in direct contact with the adjacent periphery of its chain pin. Therefore, the pitch of the two pitch holes 2B of a givenside bar I8 is shortened an amount equal to the4 difference between the radii of the chain pins and the pitch holes 20 of each intermediate side bar`l8. In other words, Vwhere two chain pins and two pitch holes 2B are involved with each. intermediate side bar I8, the pitch for .the pitch holes 20 `should be reduced an amount which is equal to the sum of the differences between the. radii of both chain pins and the radii of lboth pitch holes 2Q. To express this formula in a diiferent way, where two chain pins and;

lFil) chain pin and itspitch hole.

'set of dimensions.

.two pitch holes are involved, the pitch of the pitch holes should be reduced an amount equal to the total difference in diameter between one Where only one chain pin andpitch hole is involved, as will be the' case for the offset links of Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, the pitch between pitch holes should be 'reduced an amount equal to one-half the difference between the diameter of one chain'pin and the diameter of one pitch hole.

' This shortening of the pitch of the intermediate side bars I8 will clearly place the outside surfaces of the pitch holes 2I'I in engagement with the chain pins 2| while these chain pins remain straight. The lintermediate side bars I8 then will carry the same proportion of the load asthe outside side bars I1 and yet the chain pins 2| may be easily passed through the pitch holes 20. The press fitting operation of each-oneof these chain pins 2|, therefore, will be no greater than the press fitting operation performed for any single strand chain.

It is believed that this modification or shorten* ing of the pitch or position of .the pitch holes 29 relative to the pitch or I:positioning of Vthe pitch holes I9 can be more fully and. more clearly explained by applying specific dimensions to the disclosure of side plates I'I and I8 in Fig. 3. The dimensions which will be applied to the side bars of this figure will 'be appropriate for a chain of one pitch only. It will .be appreciated, therefore, that these specific figures are not given for the purpose of limiting the invention to one critical The figures or dimensions will vary as the pitch of the chain varies.

' As the side bar I1 is the bar of normal construction, its pitch, or difference between pitch holel axes, indicated by the dimension line A, corresponds with the normal vlink pitch for the chain, or the distance between the axes of the two chain pins 2|. In the example of dimensions to be specifically presented, this pitch or dimension A is 3.117 inches. that the same dimension lines also have been applied to the disclosure of Fig. 1. Dimension line A, therefore, appears therein. In this latter figure, however, it is applied to the dimension vorv distance between chain pin axes. The diameter of each chain pin 2| is represented by the dimension line B in'Fig. 1. This diameter is .802 inch. As a press t is to be provided between the chain pin 2| and itsrespective pitch hole I9 of the side bar I'I, the diameter of each pitch'h'ole I9 must A'beless than the diameter of v the chain pin. This diameter isrepresented by the dimension line C and is .800 inch. The chain pin' diameter, therefore, is .002 inch rlarger than the diameter of the pitchfhole I9, and'this difference provides the press t desired. From these two dimensions A and C, we can readily arrive at thev dimensions represented by the lines D and -E or the distances 'betweenthe two inner sides and the two outer sides ofthe pitch holesv I9. The dimensionD will be 2.317 inches. The dimension E will be 3.917 inches. Fig. 1 discloses dimension lines D and E"in'stead ofthe dimen sion lines D andV E of Fig. '3. Thesedifferent 'reference .characters lhave been employed because there will be a difference in the inside and outside dimensions of the two pitch holes I9 after aside bar I'I is built into a chain'assembly. This difference-results from the press tting of chainpins in the pitch holes I9. lInother words, as each vchain pin `is .002 inch larger in 'diameter than its pitch hole 19, this .002 mustzbe' taken for the intermediate side barA I8.

It will be noted care of inl some way. In actual practice, the chain pin is compressed or reduced in diameter to take care of a portion of this diiference and the pitch hole I9 is expanded or increased in diameter to take Careof the remainder of the difference. For our purposes, however, we shall consider that the lchain pin'diameter vremains constant and the pitch hole is expanded sufIi ciently to take care of the entire .002 inch difference. With this variation in dimensions in mind, the dimension line D' will measure 2.3152 inches while dimension line E will measure 3.919 inches.

Let us now consider the specic dimensions It has been explained above that the -diameters of the pitch holes 20 are to be sufficiently greater than the diameter of thev chain pin 2|, or dimension B, to provide a loose tlbetween `these pitch-.holes 20 and their respective chain pins,-an appropriate diierence in dimension will be for the pitch holes 29 to each measure .806 inch. Dimension line F represents `the diameter of each pitch hole 2|). This diameter allows .O04 inch clearance between the periphery of a chain pin and the internal diameter of its `pitch hole 20. If a chain pin is centered in a pitch hole. 20,1' there will be a clearance of .002 linch at any point around the periphery of the chain pin. To move each pitch hole 29. inwardly, longitudinally of l ward each other. a distance Aof .004 inch. Dimension line G, therefore, representsthe link pitch of the intermediate side bar, or the distance between the axes of the two .pitch holes 20. This dimension will be 3.113 inches. 'Having this dimension G and the dimension F, we can readily calculate the dimensionsuepresented by lines H and I. 'Ihe dimension His' 2.307incheS./. Di'- mension I is 3.919 inches. Fig. 1, discloses two additional dimension'lines J and K which designate the distances'between the two .inner sides and the two outer sides, respectively, of adjacent chain pins 2|. These'dimensions'will correspond with dimensionsD and `n."','1espectively or 2.315 inches for dimension line J and 3.919 inches for dimension line K.

A summary'of the dimensions represented by lines A to K, inclusive, are set forth in thefollowing Schedule 1: v

Inches 1 j `.Inches Referring nowto theform ofchain disclosed in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, and specicallyto the disclosure of Fig. 4, it will be seen that this multiple assembly chain is made vup of two strands with each strand formed entirely of offsetI links 23. Each one of these links isY made up of side bars 24 and 25. Each side bar 24 includesanoutside end portion 26 and an linside end portion 21. Each side bar 25 consists of anoutsideend portio-n 28 'and an inside end portio-n2g9.-

The inside end portions 2'Igand 29 of each link are joined by bushings 30 which are press fitted in suitable holes at their` opposite ,endsg-Each :bushing ,30 has journaled thereon a roller 3 l. In- 4termediate its ends, each roller is provided with an aperture 32 through `which lubricant may be .introduced to lubricate the contacting surfaces of the roller and its bushing. Each bushing 35 has an aperture 33 formed in each end portion to vallow-for the passage of lubricant to lubricate the bore of the bushing and the periphery of the `*chain pin which passes therethrough.

The outside side bar end portions 26 have pitch holes 34 formed therein. The outside side bar .end portions 28 have pitch holes 35 formed therein. These pitch holes allow for the passage of 'chain pins 36 which also pass through the bores of'the bushings 30 to unite the parallel chain .strands and to unite the adjacent links of each 4strand to provide articulated joints between all `adjacent links of the respective strands. These chain'pins may be ofany desired construction .fbut are illustrated as being headed at the end 3l and as having an aperture 38 formed in the remaining end "to receive a Cotter pin, or the like, 39. Lugs 40 may be formed on the side bar end portions 26 to engage ilat sides 1H of the pin heads to prevent rotatio-n of the pins.

In this arrangement, it will be seen that each side bar of each chain link will be provided with a .pitch hole lat one end through which a chain pin directly ipasses. It is the outside end portion oi 'each side bar which has the chain pin receiving pitchjhole formed therein. As there are four such outside side bar end portions for each complete chain joint, it will be as impractical in this type of chain to provide' press fits between the chains and lall of the pitch holes directly receiving the same as it was with the chain structure disclosed 'in Figs. 1 to- 3, inclusive. Therefore, `the extreme outside end portions 26 of a complete joint will be provided with pitch holes 34 `of a diameter to provide a press fit forthe chain pin. The pitch holes 35 for the side bar end portions 28 will be of adiameter which will provide a loose iit `with the chain pin. These side bar-end portions 28 are theintermediate end portions of this assembly and correspond with the intermediate side bars I8 of the assembly shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

It has been explained that the remaining end portions 2l and 29 of the side bars for each link are connected to the opposite ends of bushings so vthat these end portions are not press fitted on a chain pin or do not provide pitch holes for the reception of a chain pin. Therefore, to cause the outside side walls of the pitch holes 35 to directly engage or bear against the adjacent portion of the periphery of the chain pin, it only becomes necessary to displace the pitch holes 35 inwardly a distance which corresponds with the difference between the radius of the chain pin 36 and the radius of each pitch hole 35. Expressed in another way, the pitch holes 35 will have to be displaced longitudinally inwardly of their side bar end portions a distance equal to one-half the diierence between the diameter of the chain pin 35 and the diameter of a pitch hole 35. The pitch of the side bars 25, therefore, will be shorter than the pitch of the side bars 2li by a distance equal to one-half the difference between the diameter of the chain pin 36 and the diameter of a pitch hole 35.

This change in pitch of the side bars 25 also will be explained in connection with the disclosure of Fig. 6 in which a comparison of dimensions is made between one side bar 2li and one side bar 25. In applying actual values to the `chain pin 36.

several dimension lines disclosed in Figs. 4' and 6,

it will be understood that these values apply only to a chain with a given pitch and rthat chains having different pitches will have different dmensions. The dimensions which are given, therefore, are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention.

The side bar 24 disclosed in Fig. 6 is illustrated as having a pitch hole 34 formed in its outside end portion 26 while the dotted circle 42 is intended to represent the periphery of a chain-pin passing through the bushing connected to the inside end portions 2l of the side bar. As this extreme'outside side bar 26 determines the pitch of the chain links, the dimension line L represents the link pitch. Assume that this pitch is the same as that of the chain disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, or 3.117 inches. Dimension line M in Fig. '4 represents the diameter of the chain pin 36 which is .802 inch. As the pitch hole 34 is to provide a press fit for the chain pin 36, the diameter of this pitch hole should be less than the diameter of the chain pin. The dimension line N represents the diameter of this pitch hole 34. This diameter is .3,00 inch. The diierence in diameter between the pitch hole 34 and the cha-in pin 36, therefore, is .002 inch. The dotted circle 52; as has been explained above, represents the diameter of a chain pin, and for that reason the diameter represented by dimension line O is .802 inch. With these dimensions L, N, and O given, it is not diicult to calculate the dimensions represented'by lines P and Q. The vdimension of line `l? is 2.316 inches. The dimension of line Q is 3.918 inches. Fig. 4 discloses dimension lines P and Q which differ from dimension lines P and Q of Fig. 6 because of the changein diameter of the pitch holes 34 as a resultvof press tting the chain pin 36 therein. The dimension of line P' 'is 2.315 inches. The dimension of line Q' is 3.919 inches.

The intermediate side bar 25 has a side bar end portion 28 formed with a pitch hole 35. The remaining end portion 29 of this side bar 25 is provided with a dotted circle line 42 which represents the diameter of a chain pin passing through the bore ofthe bushing connected to this end portion of the side bar. The diameter of the pitch hole 35 is represented by the line R, and this dimension is .806 inch. The dimension line O represents the diameter of the chain pin. and is the same as the dimension line O of the side bar 24.

As the pitch hole 35 is to be moved longitudinally inwardly of the side bar 25 a sulcient distance to cause the outer portion of the side wall of this pitch hole to directly bear against the periphery of the chain pin loosely iitted therein, the pitch hole 35 should be displaced longitudinally inwardly a distance corresponding to one-half the diierence between the diameter of the pitch hole 35 and the diameter of the This pitchhole 35, therefore, is displaced longitudinally inwardly .002 inch.

The dimension line S, therefore, represents the link pitch of the side bar 25, and this pitch is 3.115 inches. With dimensions O, R, and S given, it isA not diiiicult to calculate dimensions T and U. These dimensions are 2.311 inches for line T and 3.919 inches for line U.

It should be understood that dimension lines P', Q', T, and U are applied diagonally to side bars 24 and 25 in Fig.`4 only for the sake of clearness, or so as'to correspond more closely with the. application of similar dimensiondines in aaiageov- Fig; l." *The dimensio-ns lrepresented by these diagonal lines, however, arenot diagonal dimen-V- Fig. 4 has thereon three-additional dimensionl 5f; lines` whichY apply to the 'two' adjacent-'chain pins. Dimension lineV represents the distance between theV inner sides ofthe two pinsand-this is-j2z315 inches.` Dimension line W represents the'distancebetween the axes of the two pins,`

t To'summarize the dimensions represented byv i lines Lv to X, inclusive,"Schedule 2 will be set-v forth below: t

t Y Inches Inches L '3.117 "R @806 M .802 S 3.115 20211;. .soo 'r "-2.311 o .802l U 3.919 P' 2.316. V 2.315 Q 3.918 wf 3.117 P' 2.315l X 3.919 ZXQ' 3.919

Although the drawings disclose multiple assembly roller chains which include only two parallel strands of links for each assembly, it will 3 be understood that the assembly may as well include three or more parallel strands of chain links. In fact, multiple assembly chains including three strands are used almost as extensively as multiple assembly chains which include two strands. When three strands of chain links are employed, the chain pins are press tted only to the extreme outside side bar end portions and loose fits are provided between the chain pin and the pitch holes of all of the intermediate side bar end portions. The same would be true 40 with four or more strands of links assembled in a single chain structure.

It is to be understood that the forms of this invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and

45 that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

50 1. Multiple assembly roller chains, comprising a plurality of parallel strands of links connected by joints with each link in each strand including two side bars, each complete joint arrangement for the entire width of the assembly comprising a' 55 pair of side bar end portions for each strand connected by a bushing, a second pair of side bar end portions for each strand having pitchholes for the passage of a chain pin with the end portions positioned so that the bushing connected side bar 60 end portions of the strand will lie therebetween, said positioning causing side bar end portions, which have pitch holes, to lie intermediate the ends of the bushings of adjacent strands and also causing one of the side bar end portions,

65 which has a pitch hole, to act as each extreme outside side bar end portion of the complete joint arrangement, and a single chain pin extending through all of the bushing bores and the pitch holes of the complete joint arrangement;

70 the diameters of the respective pitch holes of a joint being such as to provide a press lit between the chain pin and each extreme outside side bar end portion and aloose tbetween thechain pinand each intermediate side bar end portion, the pitch 75 holes for the intermediate side bar end portions,

having `the'loose fits, beingy eccentrically positioned with respect'to the axis of the chain pin so `ythatthe sidewall portions of the pitch holes lying closest to the ends of theside bars will ,bearY against the vchain pin to equalize the-load borne 5 2 by the intermediate and extreme outside side bars. f A

' 2. Multiple 'assembly' rollerchains, comprising a' plurality of parallel strands-of links connected,`

by joints with each link in each strand includ- 1r)v ing two side bars, each completeV joint arrangement'for the entire width ofthe assembly com-ll prising a pair of side bar end portions for each strand connected by a bushing, a second pair of side bar end portions for each strand having pitch 15 holes vfor the passage of a chain pinv with theend portions positioned so that the bushing connected` by the bar end portions of the strand will lie4 therebetween, said positioning causing side bar end portions, which have pitch holes,-to lie interv mediate the ends of the bushings ofadjacent strands and also causing one of the side bar end portions, which has a pitch hole, to act as -`each extreme outside side bar end portion of the complete joint arrangement, and a single chain pin'25 extending through all of the bushing bores'andN the Apitch holes of the complete joint arrangement; the diameters of the respective pitch holes of a joint being such as to provide a press fit between the chain pin and each extreme outside side barv end portion and a loose t between the chain pin and each intermediate side bar end portion, the pitch of the side bars of a chain assembly having end portions loosely tted to chain pins being shortened relative to the normal pitch, or distance between adjacent chain pin axes, an amount which will cause the side wall portions of the loosely fitted pitch holes lying closest to the ends of the-side bars to bear against the chain pins to balance the load borne by all of the chain link side bars.

3. A complete joint structure for a multiple strand roller chain assembly comprising two inside and two outside chain link side bar end portions for each chain strand with the inside and outside end portions arranged in overlapping pairs, a bushing connecting the inside side bar end portions of each strand, the outside side bar end portions of parallel strands having pitch holes and being arranged to form the two intermediate end portions and the two extreme outside end portions of the complete joint structure, and a single chain pin extending through all of the bushing bores and the pitch holes of` the complete joint structure, the diameters .of the respective pitch holes of a joini-l being such as toprovide a press iit between the chain pin and each extreme outside side bar end portion and a loose t between the chain pin and each intermediate side bar end portion, the pitch holes for the intermediate side bar end portions, having the loose iit, being eccentrically positioned with respect to the'axis of the chain pin so that the side wall portions of the pitch holes lying closest to the ends of the side bars will bear against the chain pin to equalize the load borne by the intermediate and extreme outside side bars. t.

4. Multiple assembly roller chains,'comprising a plurality of parallel strands of alternately arranged inside and outside links, each including a pair of side bars, connected by joints with the inside and the outside links of the parallel strands being aligned transversely of the assembly whereby one side bar of each outside link will lie intermediate the inside links of the parallel strands andthe other side bar of each outside link will lie v'15 on an extreme outside of the assembly, a bushing connecting both the ends of each pair of side bars for each inside link, each end ,of each side bar of the outside links having a pitch hole formed 5 therein, and a single chain pin passing through all of the bushings and the pitch holes at each joint; the diameters of the respective pitch holes of each joint being such as to provide a press fit between the chain pin and the pitch holes of the mextreme outside side bars of the assembly and "aloose lit between the chain pin and the pitch holes'of Athe intermediate side bars of the assembly, the pitch of all of the said intermediate side bars of the outside links,lwhich have loose ts 15;:W12h the chain pins, being shortened relative to xthe pitch of the extreme outside side bars of the outside links an amount which will cause the side wall portions of the loosely fitted pitch holes lying closest to the ends of the side bars to bear gowagainst the chain pins to balance the load borne ""by all of the chain link side bars.

5. Multiple assembly roller chains, comprising a plurality of parallel strands of oiset links connected by joints and with the links of the 25respective strands transversely aligned, each link ""of each strand comprising two side bars arranged to provide two inside side bar end portions and two outside side bar end portions with a bushing connecting the two inside side bar end portionsI and a pitch hole formed in each outside side bar end portion, one outside side bar end portion of 5,

each link lying intermediate the inside side bar end `portions of the next adjacent two links at each joint, and the other outside side bar end portion lying on the extreme outside of said joint,

and a single chain pin passing through all of the 10t bushings and the pitch holes at each joint; the diameters of the respective pitch holes of each joint being such as to provide a press nt between the chain pin and the pitch holes of the extreme outside side bar end portions of the assembly and 15 j the load borne by all of the chain link side bars. 25`

CHARLES R. WEISS. 

